CVE-2014-6914 in Houcine El Jasmi
Summary
by MITRE
The Houcine El Jasmi (aka com.devkhr31.houcineeljasmi) application 1.0 for Android does not verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6914 represents a critical security flaw in the Android application com.devkhr31.houcineeljasmi version 1.0, which fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications. This application, developed by Houcine El Jasmi, demonstrates a fundamental weakness in its cryptographic implementation that directly undermines the security assurances typically provided by secure communication protocols. The flaw occurs at the certificate validation layer where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary verification steps that should confirm the certificate's authenticity and trustworthiness.
This vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation as classified by CWE-295, specifically addressing the failure to validate certificates against a trusted certificate authority. The application's implementation lacks proper certificate pinning mechanisms and fails to perform hostname verification, creating an attack surface that allows malicious actors to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks. The absence of certificate verification means that attackers can present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile application and backend servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data exchanged through the application. Mobile users connecting to services through this vulnerable application face significant risks including credential theft, financial data compromise, and exposure of personal information. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to even amateur attackers who can simply set up a malicious server with a crafted certificate. This vulnerability directly maps to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1041 for exfiltration and T1566 for credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks.
Security researchers have documented similar patterns in mobile applications where developers prioritize rapid development over security implementation, often resulting in applications that fail to properly implement SSL/TLS security controls. The vulnerability demonstrates a common pattern in mobile application development where certificate validation is either completely omitted or implemented incorrectly, leaving applications vulnerable to attacks that would normally be prevented by proper cryptographic security measures. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of the broader mobile security landscape where similar issues have been identified across multiple applications and platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must include immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms, including certificate pinning and hostname verification. Developers should integrate established security libraries and frameworks that properly handle certificate validation rather than implementing custom solutions that are prone to errors. The application should be updated to verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities and perform proper hostname checking to ensure certificates match the expected server names. Additionally, security audits should be conducted to identify other potential cryptographic weaknesses in the application's security implementation, with particular attention to data transmission and storage mechanisms that may be similarly vulnerable to attack. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish incident response procedures for addressing certificate-related security incidents.